Authors : Abebayehu Tadesse, Eset Hadgu, Berhanu Mekbib, Rahmeto Abebe and Solomon Mekuria
Abstract: The study was conducted in five villages of Tstelemty woreda, Western Tigray. The data was gathered to observe the prevalence of mechanically transmitted trypanosomosis in cattle. Blood samples were collected from 300 heads of randomly selected cattle of both sexes and different age groups. The body condition of the study animals was also recorded. Samples collected for PCV evaluation were used to prepare blood films for the morphological identification of the parasite. An overall prevalence of trypanosome infection in the study area was 2.66% and all of these infections were due to Trypanosoma vivax. This study revealed that there was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in the prevalence between male (1.02%) and female (3.46%) and between adult (3.18%) and young (1.25%) animals. The prevalence of trypanosome infection in medium body condition was 1.88% and that of poor conditioned animals was 4.54%. The difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Mean PCV value of parasitemic animals was 21.8% and this value was significantly lower than (p<0.05) that of aparasitemic animals with mean PCV of 29.4%. The study area is known as free of tsetse fly infection. Although, the present study indicated low prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis (2.66%) in the study area, the potential impact of Trypanosoma vivax infection on production and productivity of cattle shall not be undermined. Studies should also be conducted on the biting flies that are responsible to transmit the infection among the cattle population. Therefore, attention should be given to control the disease.
Abebayehu Tadesse, Eset Hadgu, Berhanu Mekbib, Rahmeto Abebe and Solomon Mekuria, 2011. Mechanically Transmitted Bovine Trypanosomosis in Tselemty Woreda, Western Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Agricultural Journal, 6: 10-13.